Independent participatory media for Iran

A group of activists has launched a campaign to focus international attention on the condition of jailed Iranian student activist Bahareh Hedayat.

The campaign was launched in time with Hedayat’s approaching birthday with the announcement that Hedayat was arrested only “for her courageous criticism” and should be immediately released.

The campaign activities include : writing articles documenting Hedayat’s activism, producing and distributing posters and short video clips of birthday greetings, collecting signatures on petitions calling for her release, and planting trees in her name in various international university campuses.

Hedayat was arrested in December 2009 during Iran’s post-election protests – her fifth arrests in four years. She was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison and is currently serving her sentence in one of the most notorious sections of Evin Prison in Tehran.

Hedayat’s persistence in issuing protest messages from inside prison has led officials to apply further pressure. For the past three months, she has been denied any outside visits or telephone calls.

The Bahareh Hedayat Campaign says it will continue its activities until she is released.